If you've never been exposed to traditional Chinese medicine before, you may not even know what acupuncture is...and that's OK! But why not know about all the healthcare options available to you? Acupuncture has been in use for over 2,000 years. It follows the Chinese medicine belief that no issue in the body is isolated. Everything is connected, whether it's a connection between various body parts and organs or between the mind, body, and spirit, a person's wellbeing is always considered as a total picture and not one segment.

The root of this belief is that each person, each living thing, has qi-a life energy. Qi flows through the body in energy streams known as meridians, which are related to hundreds of points on the skin. When blockages exist in the meridians and the flow of qi is inhibited, health is compromised and pain or illness can result. Acupuncture is the strategic placement of ultra-thin (think a hair's width) needles in the acupoints that correspond to the meridians of the issue at hand. The goal is to renew the healthy flow of qi and to restore the body to balance.

Whether you know a little bit about acupuncture, have never heard of it, or know all about it and have decided that it's not for you-take a look at these reasons that may be holding you back from giving it a whirl, and see if you want to reevaluate your assumptions! READ MORE

Reaching Optimal Eye Health

with Chinese Medicine

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the eyes relate to the internal organs. In Chinese medicine, each part of the eye is associated with a particular element and corresponding zang organ. The iris is represented by the liver zang. The heart zang relates to the corners of the eyes or the canthi, the upper and lower eyelids correspond to the spleen, the conjunctiva the lung, and the pupil the kidney.

Chinese medicine recognizes six environmental, or external, pathogens that can lead to vision loss. A person's resistance to environmental pathogenic factors is based on how healthy their immune system is, which, in turn, is a function of qi (a person's energy, similar to a life force). Basically, if a person has strong qi and good resistance, he or she can ward off potential hazards associated with these external factors. According to TCM, a person with poor qi flow or imbalances in qi in any of the zang organs relating to the parts of the eye will have decreased resistance to the six specific environmental pathogens that can influence vision. READ MORE